Researcher Awarded €36K Grant to Study Postherpetic Neuralgia
Franziska Karl-Schöller, a scholar from the University Hospital of Würzburg (UKW), has received a significant pell grant to study postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a chronic pain syndrome that can occur after shingles. The 36,000 euro EFIC-Grünenthal-Grant will support her innovative research project.
PHN is a complication of shingles, caused by the VZV virus, which can lead to long-lasting nerve pain. Karl-Schöller aims to create the first three-dimensional, innervated skin model for studying this condition. Her research, supported by Prof. Jochen Bodem and Prof. Florian Groeber-Becker from the UKW, seeks to understand the causes of chronic nerve pain after shingles and develop new therapies for long-term relief.
The European Pain Federation (EFIC) and pharmaceutical company Grünenthal fund the EFIC-Grünenthal Grant (E-G-G), supporting young scholars like Karl-Schöller. Among 51 applicants, she was selected to receive this grant for her project titled 'Innervated in vitro Skin Model for Postherpetic Neuralgia'.
Karl-Schöller's research project will investigate the mechanisms of PHN and explore potential approaches for innovative therapies. With the support of the EFIC-Grünenthal-Grant, she is poised to make significant strides in understanding and treating this debilitating condition.
